Most people would never call a person ugly or fat to their face unless they wanted to hurt the other person’s feelings. Howard Stern is not one of those people. He’s make a living saying whatever he wants about whom ever he wants. He recently made some comments about “Precious” star, Gabourey Sidibe.

Stern drew criticism from the mainstream media for his comments about Gabourey Sidibe’s appearance at the Academy Awards. Howard Stern said: “There’s the most enormous, fat black chick I’ve ever seen. Everyone’s pretending she’s a part of show business and she’s never going to be in another movie.”

Howard Stern played clips of reporters from mainstream media outlets fuming over his frank statements about Gabourey Sidibe’s weight on Wednesday, and then responded by saying: “Obesity in this country is out of control….What’s really sad though is that there are people who say it’s okay to be this heavy. You’ve got to love your body, you’ve got to embrace it.” – Washington Examiner

What do you think readers? We all know that sometimes things are said because they are nice, but they are not realistic. Let’s face it, people lie. Is it realistic to think that in a society that is obsessed with physical beauty and perfection that a person of Gabourey’s size will have a vibrant film career? If she was not a famous actress, would people call her beautiful? If we acknowledge the skin color politics of the black community, how does that figure into this conversation? I want you guys to think about this honestly. If this were your child, what perspective would you give her about what people may be saying in her face and what they might be saying behind her back?

(Note: She recently landed a role on Showtime’s “Big C” playing a “smart-mouthed student“. Um…don’t large black women have a history of playing smart mouthed maids, friends, students, etc. Typecast!)

21 Responses to Is Gabourey Sidibe Attractive or Are People Being Nice?

Well, If we are talking physical appearence, let’s start with Howard Stern. He looks like a greasy haired mongrel, yet he manages to have a career.
On a professional level, I believe Ms. Sidibe is a wonderful actress, with lots of talent. Talent, and a willingness to work hard goes a long way.
On a personal level, I think that she is nice looking,
but I am concerned that she is so large.
I wonder how she really feels about her weight and body image.

OK, I’ll be honest. Gabbie’s weight can’t possibly be healthy for her. Unless she has glandular problems (which is very possible) and her consistent exercize/healthy eating does her no aesthetic good, she’s going to die an early death. You never see old people of this size.

On the other hand, her skin tone, features, and other elements of her appearance & personality certainly do make her attractive. The only people who can’t admit that are folks who have allowed themselves to be brainwashed into seeing beauty in only one or two colors.

As for her future in Hollywood, it’ll be very interesting if she’s ever cast as any character of substance again. If she is, then Hollywood has come a long way. In the meantime, though, she should know better. Gabbie’s a grown woman and should turn down ANY role that takes us back to Steppin Fetchit times. There’s no way she’s a New Yorker yet has that limited a social conscious. So I trust the role she’s about to play is either much deeper than the stereotype, or it’s simply not true that she’s taken it.

She has many aspects of beauty- intelligence, humor, lovely skin and features, but I do wonder about her health as far as the weight is concerned.

But damn it! I’d hate to see her try to be skinny to conform to Hollywood! There are so many body types out in the world and I think that if she feels good and comfortable then forget what creeps like Stern say.

I agree with you Sista, though, about her possibly being typecast. That sucks, but hopefully she will not succumb to the devil.

As a 28 year old black man, I must say I’ve been around long enough to enjoy Howard Stern. I also think his co-host Robin is hot! With that being said, there is a thin line between sexy and healthy. Look at Buffy The Body for an example. She may be what Cosmopolitan considers “fat” but look at her body! You cannot say that sista doesn’t exercise. She probably can bench press almost twice her weight. Gabourey on the other hand probably isn’t that physically fit. I’m not saying that Gabourey is not sexy because she is. Stern’s co-host Robin used to be morbidly obese much like Gabourey is now. However, she did something about it. A morbidly obese black woman with a lot of sex appeal has more to gain than lose by simply sweating it out and losing weight. Gabourey should not be complacent right now and she should channel the negativity into a big suprise for the world to see. She has the spotlight. It is up to her to use it in a positive way.

I feel as though he is right in a way. There’s nothing wrong with being fat. I would be considered to be fat and I have no problem using the word. Everyone wants to be so politically correct and say obese or say that you should be happy with your image and not worry about what anyone else says. If she is happy with the way that she looks, I don’t see why I or anyone else should have an opinion about what she needs to do about her weight at all. However these magazines and media that are talking about her as if she will be the new it girl in fashion magazines need to get a grip. Even though they have recently started using plus size models most magazines would not even consider putting her on the cover. There have been a couple of exceptions to this but the question was if she was not well-regarded and in the race for the Oscars would she still be viewed as beautiful and get the same press. My answer to that is no. Most magazines and/or gossip rags immediately latch on to how much weight a celebrity has gained if they so much as step outside with a less than perfect body. I do not agree completely with Howard Stern’s statement, but I do agree with the view that most of the media is acting delusional. The past has shown us what the mainstream media considers to be beauty. Despite how beautiful I or anyone else believes her to be, they have shown us that they do not think the same as we do.

I feel as though he is right in a way. There's nothing wrong with being fat. I would be considered to be fat and I have no problem using the word. Everyone wants to be so politically correct and say obese or say that you should be happy with your image and not worry about what anyone else says. If she is happy with the way that she looks, I don't see why I or anyone else should have an opinion about what she needs to do about her weight at all. Howsver these magazines and media that are talking about her as if she will be the new it girl in fashion magazines need to get a grip. Even though they have recently started using plus size models most magazines would not even consider putting her on the cover. There have been a couple of exceptions to this but the question was if she was not well-regarded and in the race for the Oscars would she still be viewed as beautiful and get the same press. My answer to that is no. Most magazines and/or gossip rags immediately latch on to how much weight a celebrity has gained if they so much as step outside with a less than perfect body. I do not agree completely with Howard Stern's statement, but I do agree with the view that most of the media is acting delusional. The past has shown us what the mainstream media considers to be beauty. Despite how beautiful I or anyone else believes her to be, they have shown us that they do not think the same as we do.;

The real question is, why are people so concerned w/what Gabby looks like? Seems to me that a lot of the Haterade being sipped is because she’s so confident. I mean, doesn’t that fat bitch know her place?

I was at a seminar once (can’t remember what it was about), and invited one of my employees to attend it with me. There were maybe 100 or so people in the room, and at the end the hosts went into the typical Q&A session. As I raised my hand to ask a question, my associate looked at me with deer-in-the-headlights eyes and asked, incredulously, ‘Are you really going to ask a question?!?’ To her it was simply inconceivable to do something like that. There is an entire block of readers that will NEVER consider leaving a comment, itâ€™s just not part of their personality style.

I am a overweight black girl who is on the path of losing weight. Why do I want to do it? For many reasons- most of which are universal to the life of a “fat girl” of any race. First of all, I am a heterosexual female, and like most women I’d like to have CHOICES when it comes to attracting a mate.

I want to get married and have children someday, and the quality of man that I want- does not go for 300 pound + women.

And not to mention- the aches and pains of my joints- not being able to cross my legs when sitting in a feminine way, the chafing from all the rolls rubbing together… I could go on and on- but when I look at the FOLDS of fat on Gabbys arms it makes me want to cry.

When I think of a role model- A role model of femininity and ladylikeness- the kind woman I want to aspire to be- Ms.Sidebe is the anti-thesis of that. She is the image that I am running away from and not towards. And you know why? Because out here in real life, in the big city, on the streets- there is no paparazzi chasing down 200 and 300 pound black girls to put them on magazines.

Morbid obesity will never project an inherent classy image. And thats what I want for myself. Yes, I have struggled with food, and had no teacing about nutrition growing up. There emotional eating and the lack of excersize. There’s depression and many nights with no dates.

I’m sorry but if Gabby is okay with the chafing, sweating, body pain, inability to move freely and swiftly, and the myriad of ailments that come with being an obese woman… Oh god… Strechmarks from head to toe! AND cellulite, discolorations and rolls.

It too much all on one person. And it is beyond belief to me, that when there are no cameras, no reporters, and it’s just Gabby naked in front of her mirror- that she can say in all honesty: “I LOVE WHAT I SEE.”

Oh and FYI- there is a middle ground between self-hatred and denial/rebellion/apathy.

The benefits from losing weight outweigh the conditions of remaining fat.

In the REAL WORLD AWAY FROM HOLLYWOOD, the prospects of true love, romance, marriage, courtship and the like are nearly non-exsistant for girls who look like Gabby and myself. (I’m 20 pounds down with 130 left to go)

Stealth Femme, I loved the way you expressed your view so honestly. I think you should start blogging about your journey. Let me know if you need some help with setting one up. There are a lot of other girls out there who feel the same way.

I have always wanted to set up a blog and it would be great to hear your ideas and advice. I just found “Hello Negro” as I am keeping a close eye on Gabby in the media. Like many who are fascinated with the phenomenon of that young woman I am waiting to see how her fame will influence people in real life.

A comment I ran across on another website from a young man went something like: “…if no one tells Sidibe the truth, then there will be leigeons of females that look like her that will think they have a chance…”

Now don’t get me wrong, Chris Rock should have gotten his ass beat for grabbing her ass on national television- and Jaime Foxx didn’t need to go there with the Notorious PRECIOUS comment.

But I have never been one of those super fat women who sems to be cluless about the fact that daisy dukes and a tube top is NOT sexy on a 350 pound woman.

Examples like this make me ashamed to be a black girl because I see this shit everywhere I go…

Please allow to be honest here. I dont like the “Hollywood” choice of the over weight black actress Gabby. I get the idea of wanting to integrate more black women of all shades and sizes. But It seems Hollywood chose Gabby as some sort of a sick joke. THIS GIRL LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE AN APE WITH A WIG. why qould they choose this? It only stigmatizes the average black woman even more.. Its pathetic. They could have chosen a much prettier heavy black woman
But they didn’t. ON PURPOSE. Typical America.

I truly believe she is unhappy with her weight, and acts like a valley girl in order to cover up her true feelings! She’s clearly in denial. I think she’s too fat, too dark, and too unattractive to really make it on Hollywood! Just being honest.